Locking device for slidable rods



Feb. 9 1926; 1,572,087

Y P. RoEHMHoLDT LocKING DEVICE FOR SLIDABLE Hons Filed August laf 1924 ffy. f y@ @@,MWMM

Patented Feb. 9, i925.

UNITED STATES l 1,572,087 PATENT orFlcE.

PAUL L. ROEHMHOLDT, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO IRVING ENGINEER- ING- SALES COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW' YORK,`

LO(JFIIIl.\1fGiY DEVICE FOR SLDABLE RODS.

To fili. fwzom t m d'1/ concern.'

Be it known that I, PAUL L. loni-irrironnir, a citizen of the United States,A residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented'a new and useful Improvement in Locking' Devices for Slidable Rods, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to devices by means of which slidable rods may be locked or held against sliding, and more particularly to devices of this kind in which the rod may be locked against sliding` by a turning of the rod itself. Y

The objects of this invention are to provide an improved device of this kind which is of simple and vefficient `construction and which may be readily locked or released bv a partial turn of the rod; also to provide means of improved construction for connecting` a wire or extension rod with the slidable rod in such a manner that the turning of the slidable rod is not transmitted to vsaid wire or extension rod; also to provide means of impro-ved construction for connectinga device of this kind with a flexible conduit containing;l a wire slidable lengthwise there-A in for actuating' a Vmember arranged at a 'distance from the slidable rod: also 'to improve the construction of locking 'devices of this kind in other respects hereinafter specified. l

In the accompanying* drawingsr Fig. l is a. side elevation of an adjusting or loekinppdevice embodying` the invention, for securing` a slidable rod in a fixed posiw tion. Y

Fir'. Q

U5 on an enlarged scale, showing the locking device released.

Fig". 3 is a similar view thereof showing` the parts of the locking device in their locked `position.

Fin'. Ll-

a transverse, section thereof on line 1f-4., Fig'. 8.

'Fin'. 5 is a transverse section thereof von line iff-5. Fig. 2.

Fig. (i is a longitudinal sectional viewV thereof showing the housingr of the loclnnn',

device connected with .a Hexible conduit and showing; the slidable rod connected with a' is a. central sectional view thereof Application filed August. 12, 1824. Serial No. 731,883.

A represents a rodwhich is slidable in the Vdirection of its length `in a plate or guide member B having a hole therein through which the rod extends, and a represents a Vhandle or knob on the end of the rod A by desired. rl`he rod may be used for any'de- -sired purpose, for example, for adjusting lthe choke valve of an internal'- combustion engine, for opening,` and closing the radiator shuttersof an automobile, or for any other desired'purpose. In the construction shown in Fig'. l, the rod is connected with one arm of a bell crank lever a', which isfsuitably pivoted on a fixed part e2, and the other arm is connected with a rod e3 whereby the longitudinal movement of the rodA is trans# mittedl in another direction. Any other means for transmitting the movement ofthe rod A may be employed, if desired.

in many instances where a rod ofthis kind is employed, it is desired to provide means for holding the rod in any position inwhich it is set, and for this purpose, in the construction shown, a guide device or tube @,having a bore-of noncircular cross sec-l tion, is provided in whichan expansible member is arranged which may be expandn ed or contracted upony turningthe rod A. A guide device of any other suitable-construction may be employed if desired. The

tube C, inthe construction shown, is se-` Ve0 means of whichthe rod may be adjusted as cured to the Iguide plate B or may be other wise secured in a fixed position, and is substantially square in cross section, but a tubev of any other` non-circular `cross section may be employed if desired.. The expansib'le member whichis adaptedto engage with the inner face of the tubeC, in the construction shown, is in the form of a split nut made in two or more longitudinally divided sections or parts D and provided with a hole extemling, substantially centrally of the `expansible .memben the greater portion of the hole beingthreaded yso that a. portion ofthe thread is formed Von each section of the ex` pansible member.V The rod A is lprovided with a part ci which is substantiallyof the 5amddiameter as the unthreaded portion of the hole inthe split nut and the portion. of larger diameter of the rodA adjacent Vto ythe reduced portion al thereof is provided with a `screw thread E which is adapted to engage the threads of the sections D of the expanlsible member, onscguently whenthe rod 'length of 'the rod.

60, aroundthe hole arecompressed Atoward eaeh other or contracted so 'as to retainthel'ballV thread E moves into engagement with the Unthreaded portion of the expansible member, and are moved from thepositions'shovvn inFig. :2 to those shown in Fig. 3, in which latter positions the partsD engage the sides of the tube C and thus friotionally holdthe clamping deviee, Well as the rod A, against the movement in the direction of the The 'radial outward movement of the parts of the expansible member is consequently dueto a Wedging aetion caused bythe threadedportion of the 'rodA of larger diameter, entering into the unthreaded portion ofthe expansible memlieigvliieh is of smaller diameter, the Wedging `action being brought about by the powerf'ul leverage atlordedby the screw aetion. Consequently the outer 'faces of the expansible member y'can be pressed with great force into engagement with the inner face 'of the tubular guide'ii'lember C and'it` is also very advantageous that the gripping or holding action isnot exerted against the rod itself, but against'the guide tube, so that the resistance tothe turning ofthe rod A is not asgreat as the resistaneeto lengthwise movement of the rod. l.

The engagement of the threads of the rod A with the threadsfof itheexpansible kmember serves also to cause the expansible member to movelengthwise With'the rod. Means are, however, preferably provided Vfor preventing the turningof vtherod to such an extent. as to cause the threaded portionof the rod to move ont ofengagenrent with the expansible member, and for thisfpurpose, in the construotion. shown suitable stop means, stieli,for example, as a stop `ivasher F, is

' provided on'the rod A adjacent to 'the smaller end of the taperingthread thereof, the

stop Washer being Iheld"againstmovement' away fromthe threaded portion 'of the rod A byan'y suitable means, yiforexample, by deforming the -rod- A `in such manner as to produce*projectingportions f thereon, which form stops to limit the vmovement vof the stop Washer F. o 1

The rod A may be connected withv au extension rod G 'in any Asuitablefor desired manner. Inthe construction showmthe extension rod G is provided with aballlshaped end portion 'g which is alaptedfto enter intoy a longitudinal, central hole lvformed in the end off'the rod A, and after the ball has been placed into thefhole, the ends offthe rod A inthe hole. This connection `permitsthe rod A tofbeturned Without turning the extensionrod other means for Connetting 7.the ".slid'a'ble rod'i'A .with the part which is to beactuated may be employed, if

desired.

It is frequently desired to use the adjustable or slidablerod A in Connection with a Wire slidably varr-:lm ed in a Conduit so that the longitudinal movement of the slidlable -ro'd A may 'be transmitted to the wire Yber H extend. rl`his bridge 'member is preferably made of atlat strip of material gbent into substantially U-shapeand having its ends extending outwardly, andthe base 71,

of the U-shaped portion of the `eeuring strapis provided Witha hole through Which the conduit I may extend. A'pair of nuts K and K areprovided which are threaded to engage with the spirally Wound wire 'formingthe conduit and these nuts are preferably arranged at opposite sides of the base ofthe U-shaped member so as to hold the vconduit from moving through the hole in the `U,-shaped member in either direction. rlhisiU-shaped member is preferably mato o f springy or resilient materia-l sueh as steel, and the base z/of the bridge mendier ll.. Which is engage-dby the nuts K and K, is vll'referably normally slightly eurved or rounded fso that it lis straightened when ih-c nuts are pressed against this base of the U- 'shaped 'n'ie'mben The Curve of the base of: the bridge' member is suoli that the straightening action of the basetends to. press the sides'of the :U-shaped member outwardhr so that the outwardly bent portions /l of the `U-shaped member -are pressed into the slots in the tube and are held firmly in their operative positions in the slots` Conse'qnentli.'` the tightening of the nuts K 'li' servesl the two-fold purpose of securing the conduit to the bridge member and looking the ends of the: bridge member in the slots. and theresilienoy of the base of the bridge member also serves to holdthe nuts against loosening. Other means forseouring thefcomluitto the tube may be employed is desired.

rlheend of a wire I' which extends be.y yond the vconduit I may be secured to the end of the sli-dable rod A in the same mannerv that the extension rod G is secured to this member, namely by forming' a ballshapedend portion on the vWirel which entersinto a hole in the end of the slidable rod A,the'end of the rod being contraeted to retain the ball-shaped portion of the Wire I in the hol-e and thus form 'a ball and socket connection betweenl theslidablo 'rod and theend ot the wire, By means of this Vfil) Cil (itl

construction a very inexpensive and reliable connection is made between the end of the conduit and the wire with the respective parts of the tube and slidable rod.

The locking device described is easy to operate since a` partial turn of the rod serves to lock or release the rod and the rod may be locked in any desired position. `The locking device, furthermore, is ot' strong and rugged construction and comprises comparatively i'ew parts, thus greatly facilitating the manufacture thereof.

I claim as my invention:

l. The combination of a member slidable in the direction oit its length, a. tube of noncircular cross-section into which said meinber extends, and an expansible member movable lengthwise in said tube and which is held against turning by the cross sectional shape of said tube, said expansible member and said slidable membei'having cooperating parts which expand said expansible member when said slidable member is turned, to cause said expansible member to frictionally engage said tube to hold .said members against lengthwise movement.

2, The combination of a member slidable in the direction of its length, a tube inte which said member extends, an expansible member movablelengthwise in said tube, vmeans for holding said expansible member against turning in .said tube, and a` threaded portion on said slidable member which is adapted to cooperate with a Vcorrespfmdingly threaded portion of said `expansible member toexpand said member `and move the saine into ii'ictional engagement with said tube to hold said slidable member against lengthwise movement?. 1

5. The oml,iination ot a member slidable iii the direction oi its length, a tube .into which said member extends, an expansible member movable lengthwisein said tube Vand comprising a plurality ot' parts, means for holding said expansible member against turning in said tube, said expausible meinber having a centrally disposed opening provided with a. thread,- a cin'responding thread on said slidable member which is adapted to hold the parts ot said expansible member in operative rela-tion to each other and which has a part cooperating with said expansible member to move the parts of said member outwardly into lririional engageinent with said tube when said slidable member is turned.

i- The combinathm ot a rod having a threaded portion thereon, a longitudinally split nut having a threaded portion adapted to cooperate with the threaded portion ot' said rod, guide means in which said nut is movable lengthwise and held against turning, saidtlii'eaded portions being arranged to cause the partsof the nutto move radially when the ,rod is turned, whereby the parts of the nut may engage said guide means to hold said rod and nut against lengthwise movement. i

5. lThe combination et a rod movable lengthwise and having a threaded portion, a longitudinally split nut engaging the Vthreaded portion ot said rod, guide means in which said nut. is movable lengthwise and held against turning, a stop on said rod for limiting the extent to which said nut may move longitudinally with reference to .said rod, the threaded portion of said rod being adapted to move the parts et said nut radially `into' engagement with the guide means therefor to hold said rod and nut against longitudinal movement.

6. T he combination of a` rod movable lengthwise, a. .split nut arranged on said rod, said nut and rod having threaded portions which engage. to cause the parts of the nut to. be moved radially when said rod is turned, guide means for .said nut, the parts of said nut being movable into engagement with said` guide means when said rod is turned, and a. stop collanadjacent to said threaded portion of said rod'to limit the extent to which said nut may be moved lengthwise ot said rod by the turning oit said rod.

7. rlflie combination of a rod movable lengthwise, a split nut arranged on said rod and having a. threaded portion adapted to engage with a correspondingly threaded Vportion oi said rod to causethe turning oit said rod to move the parts ot said nut yradially, means adapted to be enga-ged by the parts oit' said nut when the same are moved radially, to hold said nut and rod against lengthwise moven'n-int, a stop collar on said rod, and means on said-rod for limiting the movement ot the stop colla-r to limit the extent to which said nut may be moved lengthwiseot said rod.

8. Thecombination ot a rod .movable lengthwise and having a threaded portion, a longitudinally split nut-'having a correspondingly threaded portion eng-aging with the threaded portion of said rot, whereby the turning oit the rod causes the parte ot' the nut to move radially, means adapted to be engaged by the parts oi said nut when the. same are moved radially, to hohl said nut and rod against lengthwise moven'ii-mt. a stop collar on said rod adjacent to said threaded portion, andintegi'al prrriections 'formed on said rod for limiting the movement ol` said collar lengthwise thereof, wherel'iy the parts otsaid uut are held against movement ont oit engagement with saidthread, the turning ot saidV iod'eausing the portions otsaid nut to move'radiz'rllv into a kicking posit-ion.-

`9. The combination oit a rod movable lengthwise` a tube into which said rod extends and having laterally disposed recesses, means actuated by the turning ot said rod for engaging the sides of Said-tube to hold said rod against movement, a conduit containing a wire movable lengthwise therein, a bridge member having its end secured in said recesses and having said conduit con nected to the intermediate portion thereof, and means for connecting the end of said wire with said rod. i

10. The combination of a rod movable engthwise, a tube into which said rod extends and having laterally disposed recesses, means actuated bythe turning of saidjrod for engaging the Lsides of said tube to hold said rod against movement, a conduit containing a wire movable lengthwise therein, a substantially U-shaped bridge member having end portions adapted to enter into said recesses and `having a base arranged at a distance from said ends, means 'lor securing said conduit to the base of said bridge member, andmeans for connecting said wire to said rod.

ll. rl"he combination of a rod vmovable lengthwise, a tube into which said rod extends aiid having laterally disposed recesses, means actuated by the turning of said rod -lfor engaging the sides of said tube to hold said rod against movement, a conduit containing a wire moif'able lengthwise therein, a substantially7 U-shaped bridge member or' resilient material having end portions adapted to enter said recesses and a base which is normally curved away from` said ends and having a hole through which said conduit extends, means engaging said conduit Vand arranged at opposite sides et said base and adapted to be secured against the opposite laces ot' said curved base to secure said conduit te said base and to straighten the curvature oi said'base, whereby the ends of' said U-shapedmember are pressed into said recesses, and` means `lorconnecting said wire with said rod.

The combination of a rod slidable in the direction et its length and having` an end portion et smaller diameter than the ren'iaining portion of the rod and hav- ;ing a screw thread on said remaining portion adjacent to saidportion of smaller diameter, .a split nut having a thread extending through a portion thereof only and adapted to engage the threaded portion of said rod, the portion of said rod of smaller diameter being adapted to pass freely through the inithreaded portion of said split nut, and guide means tor said splitI nut and w ith which the parts of said split nut are adapted to be moved' into locling engagement when the threaded portion of said rod enters into thev unthreaded portion of said splitnut.

18. The combination et' a rod slidable in the direction ot its length, and having a threaded portion, a split nut having a thread extending only through a portion of said split nut, and guide means on which said split nut is movable lengthwise and with which said split nut may be moved into locking engagement when said threaded portion oi' said rod is turned to move said threaded portion inte said unthreaded portion oit said split nut.

thetdirection of its length, an expansible member rotatably mounted onsaid rod and movable lengthwise therewith, guide means on which vsaid expansible member is movable lengthwise when said rod is moved in the direction of its lengt-h, and which hold said member against turning, Yand a wedging connection between -said rod and said cxpansible member whereby the turning ol. said rod in one direction causes said expansiblc member to grip said guide means 'to hold said rod againstlengthwise movement.

1G, The combination of a rod slidable in the direction oit its length, an expansible member rotatably vmounted on said rod and movable lengthwise therewith, guide means on which said expansible member is movable lengthwise when said rod is moved in the direction of its length, and whichl hold said member against turning', a wedge connection between said expansible member and saidL PAUL L.v noninfiiiotn'r. 

